Podcast · 66 episodes
The Foreign Affairs Interview, page 2
by Foreign Affairs Magazine · English
Foreign Affairs invites you to join its editor, Daniel Kurtz-Phelan, as he talks to influential thinkers and policymakers about the forces shaping the world. Whether the topic is the war in Ukraine, the United States’ competition with China, or the future of globalization, Foreign Affairs’ weekly podcast offers the kind of authoritative commentary and analysis that you can find in the magazine and on the website.
All episodes, page 2
How the Iran War Is Shaping a Post-American WorldThe global ripple effects of the U.S.-Iran war and what it signals about a “post-American” world, focusing on energy shocks, shifting alliances, and the erosion of U.S. power and moral authority.16 Apr 2026 · 1 h 29 min · 33 chapters
Will the Cease-Fire With Iran Hold?A discussion of whether a temporary U.S.-Iran ceasefire will hold after weeks of strikes, focusing on Iran’s leverage at the Strait of Hormuz, miscalculations about regime durability, and prospects…8 Apr 2026 · 31 min · 8 chapters
America in a World of UpheavalBill Burns argues the U.S. is in a rare “plastic moment” akin to the Cold War’s dawn, driven by major-power competition (China, Russia) and a technology revolution, while U.S.2 Apr 2026 · 1 h 9 min · 23 chapters
Are Europe and the United States Finally Heading For Divorce?Whether Europe and the United States are moving toward a “divorce” as Donald Trump pressures allies over Iran, Greenland, and broader coercion; whether Europe’s prior “submission” is changing, and…26 Mar 2026 · 1 h 5 min · 22 chapters
How Strong Are Iran’s Strongmen?Stephen Kotkin explains the “five dimensions” that make authoritarian regimes strong and vulnerable, then applies the framework to U.S.-Israeli actions against Iran, arguing that military pressure…19 Mar 2026 · 1 h 10 min · 20 chapters
Iran’s Tenacious Regime and the Future of the GulfHow the Iran–U.S.–Israel war could reshape Iran’s regime and destabilize the Persian Gulf, including succession, negotiation prospects, and risks of regional fragmentation.12 Mar 2026 · 1 h 20 min · 28 chapters
America’s War of Choice on IranA two-part Foreign Affairs Interview analyzing the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran (Operation Epic Fury) and whether the Trump administration is effectively pursuing regime change versus limited war…5 Mar 2026 · 1 h 6 min · 25 chapters
America the Predatory HegemonStephen Walt argues that “Trump II” reflects a “predatory hegemony” strategy: the U.S.26 Feb 2026 · 57 min · 15 chapters
Bonus: Is There an Endgame in Ukraine?A special bonus discussion on whether there is an “endgame” to the Russia-Ukraine war, focusing on the war’s fourth year, battlefield endurance, and prospects for ceasefire/negotiations.21 Feb 2026 · 1 h 1 min · 22 chapters
Can America’s Allies Survive the Transatlantic Rupture?Whether America’s allies can withstand a “transatlantic rupture” driven by Trump-era disputes (e.g., Greenland, tariffs, Ukraine policy) while keeping security and trade ties; plus what Ukraine’s…19 Feb 2026 · 39 min · 11 chapters
The Myths and Realities of Global MigrationGlobal migration myths vs realities; why migration is rising (jobs, conflict, climate shocks), why current systems fail, and what a “system overhaul” should prioritize (order and dignity, legal…12 Feb 2026 · 56 min · 24 chapters
How to Navigate the Shifting International OrderFinland President Alexander Stubb explains how to navigate a “transition” (not rupture) in the international order amid shifting U.S.5 Feb 2026 · 58 min · 24 chapters
Is China Leaving the United States Behind?John Zinn argues that U.S.-China rivalry is enduring, but Trump’s “China policy” in his second term has swung between toughness and concessions, while Xi Jinping uses the uncertainty to strengthen…29 Jan 2026 · 1 h 2 min · 24 chapters
The Erosion of the Sources of American Economic PowerLael Brainard (former Fed vice chair; Biden National Economic Council director) argues that Trump’s tariff-first, congressionally unconstrained approach is eroding U.S.22 Jan 2026 · 56 min · 31 chapters
What Kind of Change Is Coming to Iran?Nationwide anti-regime protests in Iran after late-December unrest; analysis of why the Islamic Republic’s rule is fragile, what U.S./Israeli intervention could and couldn’t achieve, and what…13 Jan 2026 · 1 h 4 min · 25 chapters
What Comes Next in VenezuelaThe episode analyzes the aftermath of a U.S. raid that captured Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and what could come next—arguing there is no long-term political solution without bringing the…8 Jan 2026 · 1 h 22 min · 33 chapters
How the Past Shadows China’s FutureHistorian Adarna Westad explains how China’s past shapes its present strategy and why U.S.-China tensions may resemble (but not equal) pre–World War I dynamics, with Taiwan as a major “flashpoint”…1 Jan 2026 · 59 min · 19 chapters
How Liberal Democracy Can Survive an Age of Spiraling CrisesHow liberal democracy can endure overlapping crises—AI disruption, inequality, eroding public trust, and U.S.-China rivalry—by steering technology, rebuilding institutions, and restoring…18 Dec 2025 · 58 min · 22 chapters
The Fear and Weakness at the Heart of Trump’s StrategyCritique of Trump’s national security strategy and its civil-military implications, arguing it is misaligned with real threats and undermines alliances and U.S.11 Dec 2025 · 43 min · 19 chapters
America Can’t Escape the Multipolar OrderThe end of the post–Cold War unipolar moment and how the U.S. should adapt to a multipolar order—favoring restraint, burden shifting, and realistic limits on what Washington can control.4 Dec 2025 · 52 min · 19 chapters
The Limits of the American Way of AIBen Buchanan argues the U.S. “AI lead” is not assured in national-security use. America’s private-sector-driven AI development creates policy and security gaps, and U.S.27 Nov 2025 · 55 min · 20 chapters
The Age-Old Contest Between Land and SeaThe episode argues that today’s “great power competition” is best understood as a centuries-old contest between maritime powers (trade, money, international law, rules-based order) and continental…20 Nov 2025 · 34 min · 11 chapters
The Strength of Trump’s Foreign PolicyRobert O’Brien, former Trump national security advisor (2019–2021), explains the logic behind Trump’s second-term foreign policy, especially toward China, Ukraine, Venezuela, alliances, India, and…13 Nov 2025 · 1 h 7 min · 24 chapters
Xi Jinping’s World of Treachery and SacrificeThe episode argues that U.S.-China rivalry is driven less by policy details than by “big leader culture” and the personal/ideological worldviews of Xi Jinping and Donald Trump.6 Nov 2025 · 57 min · 17 chapters